Pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system

ABSTRACT

A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system comprises an electrolyzer core that generates hydrogen and oxygen gases and includes a water electrolyzer having a plurality of electrolytic serial clusters connected substantially in parallel with each other and assembled into respective sealed reaction cells. Each of the electrolytic serial clusters includes a plurality of electrolytic cells. An electrolyte container includes a plurality of electrolytes in form of a concentration and is substantially separated from and connected to the electrolyzer core with a supply tube and return tube. A frame is substantially resistant to the concentration and separates a plurality of electrodes. Releasing of the gases brings the electrolytes in the electrolyzer core out of the electrolyzer core through the supply tube into the electrolyte container. The return tube allows each of the electrolytes to enter the electrolyzer core such that the electrolyte is forced to circulate by a releasing force of the gases.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates, generally, to a pumpless, fanless fluid-circulation system and, particularly, to an electrolyte-circulation system as, for example, a part of a hydrogen generator for use on-board a vehicle with an internal-combustion engine for increased fuel efficiency of and reduced emission from the engine.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known to reduce operating costs, increase fuel efficiency, and/or reduce emission of an internal-combustion engine of a vehicle equipped with a catalytic converter by using fuel-processing capabilities to assist the engine. For example, hydrogen has been considered as a potentially suitable fuel source for the engine, primarily because of potential of hydrogen, as either a primary fuel or an additive to the fuel, for it to reduce a number and amount of toxic emission in comparison to such an engine fueled by only gasoline, diesel, or other hydrocarbon-based fuels.

Toward that end, it is known to employ a hydrogen generator on-board the vehicle. Electricity from the vehicle is used for electrolysis, thus producing the hydrogen. The process of electrolysis, in general, generates heat, and normally the known generator requires a cooling system to cool electrolytes of the generator and, in turn, prevent them from overheating. The cooling system includes generally, among other structural elements, a pump that circulates the electrolytes, and a fan is required to cool them. However, the pump and fan are critical components of the cooling system and add significant complexity and cost to it.

Thus, there is a need in the related art for a cooling system of, say, a hydrogen generator, that prevents an electrolyte from overheating and cools the electrolyte and is less complex and costly than the known cooling system. More specifically, there is a need in the related art for such a system that prevents the electrolyte from overheating without a pump and cools the electrolyte without a fan.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention overcomes the problems in the related art in a pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system. The system comprises an electrolyzer core that generates hydrogen and oxygen gases and includes a water electrolyzer having a plurality of electrolytic serial clusters connected substantially in parallel with each other and assembled into respective sealed reaction cells. Each of the electrolytic serial clusters includes a plurality of electrolytic cells. An electrolyte container includes a plurality of electrolytes in form of a concentration and is substantially separated from and connected to the electrolyzer core with a supply tube and a return tube. A frame is substantially resistant to the concentration and separates a plurality of electrodes. Releasing of the gases brings the electrolytes in the electrolyzer core out of the electrolyzer core through the supply tube into the electrolyte container. The return tube allows each of the electrolytes to enter the electrolyzer core such that the electrolyte is forced to circulate by a releasing force of the gases.

Advantages of the pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system of the invention is that it can be a cooling system of a hydrogen generator, prevents an electrolyte from overheating and cools the electrolyte, is less complex and costly than the known cooling system, and does not include a pump or fan.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system of the invention are readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood while the subsequent detailed description of embodiments thereof is read taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURE OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF INVENTION

Referring now specifically to FIG. 1, a pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system according to the invention is generally indicated at 10. It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that the system 10 can be employed with a hydrogen generator (not shown) adapted to be mounted on a vehicle (not shown) according to the related art as described above [vehicular applications in which an internal-combustion engine (not shown) is the primary motive-power source]. It should also be appreciated that such a generator is merely an example of one type of hydrogen generator in connection with which the system 10 can be employed and, thus, there are other types of hydrogen generator suitable for such employment (such as stationary power-generation applications). It should also be appreciated that the system 10 can be employed in connection with any suitable application to prevent an electrolyte from overheating and cool the electrolyte.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the system 10 comprises, in general, an electrolyzer core, generally indicated at 12, that generates hydrogen and oxygen gases and includes a water electrolyzer, generally indicated at 14. The water electrolyzer 14 has a plurality of electrolytic serial clusters, generally indicated at 16, connected substantially in parallel with each other and assembled into respective sealed reaction cells, generally indicated at 18. Each of the electrolytic serial clusters 16 includes a plurality of electrolytic cells, generally indicated at 20. An electrolyte container 22 includes a plurality of electrolytes, generally indicated at 24, in form of a concentration 24 and is substantially separated from and connected to the electrolyzer core 12 with a supply tube 26 and a return tube 28. A frame 30 is substantially resistant to the concentration 24 and separates a plurality of electrodes 32. Releasing of the gases brings the electrolytes 24 in the electrolyzer core 12 out of the electrolyzer core 12 through the supply tube 26 into the electrolyte container 22. The return tube 28 allows each of the electrolytes 24 to enter the electrolyzer core 12 such that the electrolyte 24 is forced to circulate by a releasing force of the gases.

More specifically, the concentration 24 is of potassium hydroxide. The system 10 also includes a controlling module, generally indicated at 34, adapted to power the system 10 “on” and “off” according to at least one pre-defined parameter for a respective value collected from the controlling module 34. In one embodiment of the system 10, the controlling module 34 is adapted to power the system 10 according to a plurality of such parameters. The controlling module 34 also includes at least one of a pressure sensor 36, a fluid-level sensor 38, a temperature sensor 40, and an amperage sensor 42. In one embodiment, the controlling module 34 includes all of the sensors 36, 38, 40, 42 and is adapted to power the system 10 “on” and “off” according to pre-defined parameters for respective values collected from the pressure, fluid-level, temperature, and amperage sensors 36, 38, 40, 42.

In one embodiment, the system 10, in general, has the following details:

-   1) The supply tube 26 defines a diameter of the supply tube 26 of     substantially one-eighth inch; -   2) The supply tube 26 is adapted to generate an output of the gases     from substantially 0.3 L/min to substantially 1.8 L/min; -   3) Each of the electrodes 32 defines a size of the electrode 32 of     substantially 4¼ inches by substantially 9¼ inches; -   4) Spacing of substantially one-quarter inch is defined between     electrodes 32 that are adjacent to each other; and -   5) Output of the gases from the electrolyzer core 12 is     substantially at least one of: 1.6 L/min at 25 amp and 12 VDC; 1.0     L/min at 15 amp and 12 VDC; 0.72 L/min at 12.5 amp and 12 VDC; and     0.22 L/min at 7 amp and 12 VDC (in an embodiment, the output is all     of these).

In one embodiment, the controlling module 34, in particular, has the following details:

-   1) Pressure in the system 10 is controlled such that, for example,     the controlling module 34 powers the system 10 “off” when the     pressure sensor 36 reads a pre-set value of the pressure (e.g.,     greater than substantially 1 Pa); -   2) The fluid-level sensor 38 reads a current level of a fluid     (electrolytes) such that, for example, the controlling module 34     powers the system 10 “off” when the fluid-level sensor 38 reads a     pre-set value of the level; -   3) The temperature sensor 40 ensures that the system 10 operates     within a pre-set range of temperature such that, for example, the     controlling module 34 powers the system 10 “off” when the     temperature sensor 40 reads a pre-set minimum value of the     temperature (e.g., substantially less than 20° C.) or pre-set     maximum value of the temperature (e.g., substantially greater than     85° C.); and -   4) The amperage sensor 42 ensures that the system 10 operates     properly according to a pre-set range of power that the system 10     draws from a power supply (not shown) (e.g., the vehicle).

It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that the system 10, in general, and each of the electrolyzer core 12, water electrolyzer 14, electrolytic serial clusters 16, sealed reaction cells 18, electrolytic cells 20, electrolyte container 22, electrolytes 24, supply tube 26, return tube 28, frame 30, electrodes 32, controlling module 34, pressure sensor 36, fluid-level sensor 38, temperature sensor 40, and amperage sensor 42, in particular, can have any suitable shape, size, and structure and structural relationship with any of the other structural elements of the system 10. It should also be appreciated that the water electrolyzer 14 can have any suitable number of electrolytic serial clusters 16, each of the electrolytic serial clusters 16 can include any suitable number of electrolytic cells 20, the electrolyte container 22 can include any suitable number of electrolytes 24, the frame 30 can separate any suitable number of electrodes 32, and the controlling module 34 can power the system 10 according to any suitable number and kind of parameters. It should also be appreciated that the concentration 24 can be any suitable concentration. It should be so appreciated that the controlling module 34 can include any combination of the pressure, fluid-level, temperature, and/or amperage sensors 36, 38, 40, 42.

It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the related art that the supply tube 26 can generate an output of the gases of any suitable rate. It should also be appreciated that spacing of any suitable size can be defined between electrodes 32 that are adjacent to each other. It should also be appreciated that output of the gases from the electrolyzer core 12 can be any suitable rate at any suitable magnitude of current and power. It should also be appreciated that pressure in the system 10 can be controlled in any suitable manner such that the controlling module 34 powers the system 10 “off” when the pressure sensor 36 reads any suitable pre-set value of the pressure. It should also be appreciated that the controlling module 34 can power the system 10 “off” when the fluid-level sensor 38 reads any suitable pre-set value of the level. It should also be appreciated that the temperature sensor 40 can ensure that the system 10 operates within any suitable pre-set range of temperature such that the controlling module 34 powers the system 10 “off” when the temperature sensor 40 reads any suitable pre-set minimum value or pre-set maximum value of the temperature. It should also be appreciated that the amperage sensor 42 can ensure that the system 10 operates properly according to any suitable pre-set range of power that the system 10 draws from the power supply. It should also be appreciated that the system 10 can draw power from any suitable source.

The system 10 can function as a cooling system of a hydrogen generator. Also, the system 10 prevents the electrolyte 24 from overheating and cools the electrolyte 24. Furthermore, the system 10 is less complex and costly than cooling systems known in the related art. In addition, the system 10 does not include a pump or fan.

The system 10 has been described above in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been used above is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the system 10 are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the system 10 may be practiced other than as it is specifically described above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system comprises: an electrolyzer core that generates hydrogen and oxygen gases and includes a water electrolyzer having a plurality of electrolytic serial clusters connected substantially in parallel with each other and assembled into respective sealed reaction cells and each of which includes a plurality of electrolytic cells; an electrolyte container that includes a plurality of electrolytes in form of a concentration and is substantially separated from and connected to said electrolyzer core with a supply tube and a return tube; and a frame that is substantially resistant to said concentration and separates a plurality of electrodes, wherein releasing of said gases brings said electrolytes in said electrolyzer core out of said electrolyzer core through said supply tube into said electrolyte container and said return tube allows each of said electrolytes to enter said electrolyzer core such that said electrolyte is forced to circulate by a releasing force of said gases.
 2. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said concentration is of potassium hydroxide.
 3. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system comprises further a controlling module adapted to power the system 10 “on” and “off” according to at least one pre-defined parameter for a respective value collected from said controlling module.
 4. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said controlling module includes at least one of a pressure sensor, a fluid-level sensor, a temperature sensor, and an amperage sensor.
 5. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said controlling module is adapted to power the system 10 “on” and “off” according to said pre-defined parameter for said respective value collected from at least one of said pressure, fluid-level, temperature, and amperage sensors.
 6. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supply tube defines a diameter of said supply tube of substantially one-eighth inch
 7. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supply tube is adapted to generate an output of said gases from substantially 0.3 L/min to substantially 1.8 L/min.
 8. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said electrodes defines a size of said electrode of substantially 4¼ inches by substantially 9¼ inches.
 9. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein spacing of substantially one-quarter inch is defined between said electrodes that are adjacent to each other.
 10. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein output of said gases from said electrolyzer core is substantially at least one of 1.6 L/min at 25 amp and 12 VDC; 1.0 L/min at 15 amp and 12 VDC; 0.72 L/min at 12.5 amp and 12 VDC; and 0.22 L/min at 7 amp and 12 VDC.
 11. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 10, wherein output of said gases from said electrolyzer core is substantially 1.6 L/min at 25 amp and 12 VDC; 1.0 L/min at 15 amp and 12 VDC; 0.72 L/min at 12.5 amp and 12 VDC; and 0.22 L/min at 7 amp and 12 VDC.
 12. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 3, wherein pressure in said system is controlled.
 13. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said controlling module powers said system “off” when said pressure sensor reads a pre-set value of the pressure.
 14. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said pre-set value is greater than substantially 1 Pa.
 15. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said fluid-level sensor reads a current level of said electrolytes such that said controlling module powers said system “off” when said fluid-level sensor reads a pre-set value of said level.
 16. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said temperature sensor ensures that said system operates within a pre-set range of temperature.
 17. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 16, wherein said controlling module powers said system “off” when said temperature sensor reads either of a pre-set minimum value of the temperature and pre-set maximum value of the temperature.
 18. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said pre-set minimum value of the temperature is less than substantially −20° C. and said pre-set maximum value of the temperature is greater than substantially 85° C.
 19. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said amperage sensor ensures that said system operates properly according to a pre-set range of power that said system draws from a power supply.
 20. A pumpless, fanless electrolyte-circulation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said system draws power from a vehicle employing said system. 